RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is to assess the hematological profile in oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) patients. METHODS: The study's participants (100) were divided into two groups. Group I consisted of fifty areca nut chewers with complaints of burning sensations, blanching, and stiffness of the oral mucosa. Group II consisted of fifty healthy patients as controls. A hematological profile was estimated in all subjects. RESULTS: The control group had a mean hemoglobin (Hb) of 13.87±1.26 g/dL, while the OSMF group had a mean Hb of 11.03±2.16 g/dL (P=0.001). The mean serum iron level in the control group was 120.36±41.22 g/dL, while it was 44.97±13.45 g/dL in the OSMF group (P=0.001). The control group's mean serum vitamin B12 values were 424.77±110.95 g/dL, while the OSMF group's was 210.11±44.88 g/dL (P=0.001). In the research population, 47 patients had iron deficiency. The odds ratio (OR) was 28.11, which meant that the high prevalence of iron deficiency was predicted 28.11 times more often than in the control group. CONCLUSION: As part of a biochemical assessment, iron status is assessed as part of a prevention mechanism for people who are at high risk. Biochemical testing has been suggested as a potential tool for mass screening OSMF patients.
